Hairfinity Hair Growth Challenge

Ok, so I've decided to take on challenge.  Actually its 2 challenges in 1 for the next 30 days.

I posted a picture on Instagram and Facebook about 2 weeks ago wearing a length challenge shirt that I crafted all by myself......LOL, don't judge me, it was my first try.  At that time I decided to purchase the Hairfinity Healthy Hair Complex to help me towards my bra strap length (BSL) goal.  I've done my research on these vitamins, read many favorable reviews and decided to take the plunge.  My hope is that these vitamins will make my hair thicker, stronger and fuller.  As you can see, my hair tends to be a little thin towards the ends.  So, hopefully as my hair grows and I trim my ends, my hair will look more even and fuller.

Ok, so if you are not familiar with Hairfinity vitamins.  Here are the deets....

Hairfinity Hair vitamins are formulated with specific nutrients that nourish your hair from inside out while promoting faster growing, longer, thicker, stronger hair.  Those specific nutrients include:

Biotin

Niacin

Pantothenic Acid aka Vitamin B5

Vitamins A, C, D, B12, B Complex

Exclusive Capilsana Complex which is a blend of MSM, Amino Acid, Collagen and Silica

There have been a few reports of people experiencing headaches and acne breakouts.  I will definitely make a note of any of these side effects.

So the second part of my 30 day challenge is to wear protective styles and manipulate my own hair own as less as possible.  Ok, so that's me with my wild woman look on the left.  The right pic is my new goddess braids that, hopefully, will last for about 2 weeks.  After that, who knows, what I will get.  I do know that it will not require me to do anything to my lovely locks.  

So have you tried Hairfinity or any other hair growth supplement?  If so, did they work well for you?

Until next time, keep moving forward!

Nikki

My Natural Hair Journey

HOW/WHY I WENT NATURAL

Sooo, remember I said I started my first blog in 2009?  Well, sit back and enjoy, here it is......

Ok, so this time I’m in it to win it.  I’m in it for the long haul, I’m totally committed.  I’ve tried before but was unsuccessful.  So now, I’m ready, I’m more confident, I’m older, hold up, wait, no, wiser, yeah, that’s better.  I’m just plain ol’ loving ME!!!

So, ok, I’ve been watching You Tube, reading numerous blogs on how to do this.  Wide tooth comb?  Check.  EVOO? (extra virgin olive oil, for those who didn’t know….don’t worry it took me a minute to figure out too )  Check.  Shea butter?  Check.  All kinds of oils?  Check.  Shampoo and conditioner free of anything related to the Parabens family and Sodium Lauryl Sulfate?  Check.  Yep, I have everything I think I need to get started, NOW WHAT?!!!

From elementary to high school, I was always told, “Girl, you have good hair. You don’t need a relaxer.”  But I thought I did.  My hair was thicker, curlier, and kinkier without one.  I didn’t nor did my mom know how to embrace and care for my coils.  I remember my cousin Jackie bought me a Vigorol kit during a visit to North Carolina because my grandmother didn’t know what to do with my hair.  I remember that stuff smelled horrible but after Jackie rinsed it out, dried and fried my hair with a pressing comb, whew!  My hair was gorgeous.  It was long, straight, shiny, and so much more manageable.  I was hooked.  And so was my mom.  The days of me and my mom fighting because I didn’t want to get my hair combed were over.  And that was the birth of my chemically altered hair and the death of my beautiful tresses that I didn’t appreciate.

So December 2009 I made the decision to just say no more.  That’s it no more relaxers for this beauty.  No more creamy crack will lay upon my roots and cause painful sores.  No longer will I wake up the next morning with my hair matted and stuck together because of leaking (yes, leaking) scalp burns.  Ugh!!  No more of being a slave to my hairdresser to have my relaxer touched up because my roots were curlier, kinkier than the rest of my hair strands.  Sitting in the hair salon for almost 3 hours and then shelling over anything upwards of 60 bucks, just got on my nerves.  I was tired of it.  Besides my hair wouldn't remain straight for long.  I did so much damage to my hair flat ironing it every day because it was trying to tell me something.  My hair wanted to be curly.  No matter how much flat ironing and wrapping I did, the left side and the back of my hair always ended up curly by mid-day.  Oh and if the humidity level rose, it ended up in a ponytail.

So I have everything I need, I think.  But how am I going to do this?  Transition or Big Chop?  Oooo, decisions, decisions.  I think I have a pretty cute face, decent shaped head.  I think I can rock a short cut, right?  OK, transition it is.   I figured a few rounds of braids, twists and sew-ins would make it much easier for me. 

So now 3 hours in the salon turned into 6-10 hours sitting in a braider's chair…..I should’ve chopped it all off.   I’ll admit that sew-ins are my favorite.  Kudos to whoever introduced them to the world!  I love the fact that I can still wear a wide variety of great hairstyles from short bobs to long flowing, bouncy curls all while protect my hair at the same time.  

No, my journey wasn't that bad.  I am so much happier with my hair now.  I no longer have the multiple strands in the sink or on the floor.  It’s still thinner than I like but that’s just my hair and I love it.  I love being able to just wash it and let it air dry.  I blow dry from time to time because I want to not because I have to.  It’s weird but going natural has made me more confident.  I no longer feel like I need to fit or blend in with society.  I love being and looking different than the norm now.  I love the stares and questions I get about my hair while I’m out.  

I’m still learning about my hair.  I have 2, maybe 3, different textures in my head, 3C, 4A and a little bit of 4B in the crown.

I’m still learning what my hair likes.  It loves my Shea butter mix and my leave in conditioner concoction that I learned about online.  Now, styling is a totally different story.  I have no clue as to how to style my natural hair.   I guess it’s back to YouTubervisity I go!! 

It's Going To Be A Great 2014!!!

Happy New Year loves!

I am so excited as this is my first blog post.  Yay Me!...thank you, thank you.  Awww, no need for the standing ovation, sit down!!!   But seriously though, I congratulate myself because to be honest, I actually wrote my first blog entry about 4 years ago.  Yes, in late 2009, I started journalizing my transition from the creamy crack aka relaxers to being au naturale....100% chemical free.

I don't know why I waited so long to actual "go live" with my blog.  I mean, 4 years, that's a long time to remain in the shoulda, coulda, woulda phase, huh?  Ok, ok, scratch that.  Yeah, I do know why I procrastinated.  I procrastinated because I have fears.  Huge fears.  A fear of failure.  I fear that my best is not good enough.  I'm fearful of letting my family down if things don't go as expected.  What if I invested many resources and things didn't go as planned?  Crazy, right?  I often wonder where would I be if I had only (fill in the blank here.)  I also realized that I have a fear of success.  That absolutely sounds ridiculous, huh?  I know.  Who doesn't want to be successful in whatever they decide to do?  It's not that I don't want to be more successful than I am, it's just that something within me shies away from what success brings. Success brings on more commitment, more responsibility, more accountability.  It brings on more attention and expectations.  With success also comes disruption to the norm.  And, I think that's what bothers me the most.  I have fallen into this very comfortable zone that I don't want disrupted.  Well no more!!!

So I have declared 2014 as my year of transformation and progression.  It's my year to look my challenges and obstacles head on, face to face and overcome them.  I have vowed to myself that I am getting back on the path that I started on 4 years ago.  I will continue moving forward with the business idea I had 2 years ago.  I will work hard on changing unhealthy habits that I've developed.  This is an abbreviated list, of course.

So as 2014 begins, I challenge each of you to face an obstacle or fear that may be hindering you from living a fuller, happier life. Whatever it may be.  I know we can do it together!